December 24, 2005

Alone in the woods

The woods is where I go to be alone, away from family and friends, away from the busyness and stress of life, alone with my thoughts and feelings. It's where I go to cry, to rejoice, to grieve.

Back in the grove of old Scotch pines, which is the center of the woods for me, a dead tree balanced over a little creek is one of my favorite spots. I always stop to walk back and forth on the tree, learning to balance. I've often thought that if I could just get my body to figure out how to balance, perhaps my emotional and spiritual life will follow. At the base of the pine trees, I will usually toss my coat down to make a seat, because sitting in the presence of the woods brings me peace.

The red fleece I'm wearing in the photo is the same red fleece I took with me on the raft trip, although I think in the photos you saw, I was wearing a short sleeve red shirt. After a few photos, you have seen practically my whole wardrobe. The outfit in this photo is pretty much what I wear to campus when I teach.